Linkage of adhesion, filamentous growth, and virulence in Candida albicans to a single gene, INT1.
Adhesion and the ability to form filaments are thought to contribute to the pathogenicity of Candida albicans, the leading cause of fungal disease in immunocompromised patients. Int1p is a C. albicans surface protein with limited similarity to vertebrate integrins. INT1 expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was sufficient to direct the adhesion of this normally nonadherent yeast to human epithelial cells. Furthermore, disruption of INT1 in C. albicans suppressed hyphal growth, adhesion to epithelial cells, and virulence in mice. Thus, INT1 links adhesion, filamentous growth, and pathogenicity in C. albicans and Int1p may be an attractive target for the development of antifungal therapies.
Gale
C A
CA
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Bendel
C M
CM
McClellan
M
M
Hauser
M
M
Becker
J M
JM
Berman
J
J
Hostetter
M K
MK
D000818:Animals; D019921:Biotinylation; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C097687:alphaINT1 protein, Candida albicans